Business Resources

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Page Contents

TAXES AND FEES
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
- Higher Education
- Airport Jobs
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
- Small Business Development Center
- Chamber of Commerce
- Ventures
- Business Impact NW
BUSINESS LICENSING
UTILITIES
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
STARTING, GROWING, OR RELOCATING A BUSINESS

TAXES AND FEES

Businesses in SeaTac profit from the absence of a local Business and Occupation (B&O) tax, which is imposed by many Washington cities. The City of SeaTac does not impose a utility tax on businesses or residents.

Property Tax - per $1000 of assessed value	$2.89*
Local Business and Occupation	None
Sales Tax	10.2%
Business License Fee	See Fee Schedule
Utility Tax	None

*Includes a levy for city-operated fire services

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Higher Education

South King County

South King County is able to meet the educational needs of a diverse and growing population. Home to a network of local, regional, private, community and technical colleges, South King County students are well prepared to succeed in today’s global, high-performance workplaces. South King County is home to Highline College in Des Moines, and the Central Washington University branch campus at Highline.

In today’s highly competitive marketplace, businesses need a highly trained and flexible workforce. Highline College offers an extensive array of academic, career-related and personal development programs for individuals and companies of South King County.

The Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) facilitates linkages and partnerships among education, business, industry, community partners and workforce intermediaries, advocating for Washington State both nationally and internationally in international trade, transportation and logistics. Led by a statewide advisory committee, ITTL is located at Highline Community College.
Highline Community College’s Center for Extended Learning offers job skills programs and customized training programs to workers interested in opportunities for professional growth. With a variety of course offerings and certificate programs, Highline provides companies and their employees with first-rate training programs resulting in broad new skill sets. The center also has a qualified staff to engage with those companies and organizations interested in relocating to the South King County area and accessing important employee programs.

Airport Jobs

Located in the main terminal of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Airport Jobs is the primary recruiting tool for many airport and airport-related employers, and the principal resource for people seeking employment there. It is a program of Port Jobs and is sponsored by the Port of Seattle.

Airport Jobs helps job seekers understand the nature of airport-related jobs; complete employment applications; create resumes and cover letters; learn job search and interviewing techniques; and obtain referrals to community resources.

For employers, Airport Jobs offers a centralized location to list job openings, start up or expand operations, use their offices for interviewing, and reduce advertising expenditures for job applicants.

Seattle Southside offers many opportunities for entrepreneurs or small businesses interested in starting or expanding operations.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Small Business Development Center

The Highline Small Business Development Center is a resource for free, one-to-one, confidential counseling, research, resources and technical assistance for small and medium-size business owners, managers and entrepreneurs in southwest King County, Washington.

The SBDC’s mission is to support local business owners in their efforts to build profitable businesses, strengthen the local business community and stimulate regional economic growth.

Services offered:

Business counseling
Research
Training
Resources

Phone: 206.878.3710 ext. 5151
Web: wsbdc.org

Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Seattle Southside Chamber is to be a leader in the business world and the communities it serves—Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila. The Chamber is able to focus on business advancement in the region by helping to build and maintain a strong economic environment.

Through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers, the Chamber works diligently to enhance the mutual trust and cooperation of the businesses and communities it serves. The Chamber provides a useful directory as a source for businesses that are dedicated to continued advancement of southwest King County.

Phone: 206.575.3016
Web: seattlesouthsidechamber.com

Ventures

Ventures empowers entrepreneurs with limited resources and unlimited potential to improve their lives through small business ownership.

We use a multi-layered approach to help low-income entrepreneurs move their businesses forward. Our strategy combines:

Business courses
Microloans and matched savings accounts
Financial literacy workshops
One-on-one coaching and mentoring
Retail incubation through the Ventures Marketplace
Food incubation through workshops and affordable kitchen rentals
Ongoing support

Ventures is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a Small Business Administration Microloan Program Intermediary lender.

Phone: 206.352.1945
Web: venturesnonprofit.org

Business Impact Northwest

Business Impact NW (BIN) is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to serving under-banked entrepreneurs by providing access to capital and comprehensive business technical assistance.

Business Impact NW’s mission is to promote long-term positive economic change for low/moderate income business owners, particularly women, minorities and veterans, through financial services, business advice and training.

Business Impact NW serves startups as well as existing businesses, and is dedicated to helping underserved entrepreneurs at every stage in their business growth.

Business Impact NW was founded in 1997 as the Community Capital Development and is a certified, rated and regulated financial institution. Business Impact NW is not a US or state government agency.

Phone: 206.324.4330
Web: Business Impact Northwest
Other: FAQ'S

Small Business Liasons

Here is a list of Small Business Liasons for Washington State

BUSINESS LICENSING

The City of SeaTac Municipal Code Section 5.05.020 requires that anyone conducting, maintaining, operating, or engaging in any business within the City first obtain an annual business license for each business activity. Find more detailed information on our Business Licensing page.

UTILITIES

Utility providers vary within the City limits. Find more detailed information on our Utilities page.

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the largest airport in Washington. The airport is served by approximately 30 airlines, many of which are foreign flag carriers.

SeaTac businesses engage in an enormous amount of international trade. This includes software, legal services, architectural and engineering design and consulting, product importing, food and beverages exporting, and trade of many other commodities and services.

International Advantages of the Region

Strategic location midway between Asia and Europe.
Puget Sound itself is a body of water lying east of Admiralty Inlet through which ocean waters reach inland some 50 miles from the Pacific coast to provide all-weather ports for ocean-going ships at Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia.
The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma constitute the third largest container complex in the United States, and more than $50 billion worth of goods travel through these ports every year. Closer to Asia than any other U.S. seaport, the ports of the Pacific Northwest area are premier gateways for products to and from North America.

There are many organizations that promote and support international trade and improved international relations. Some of the key ones are listed below. Extensive additional listings may be found at the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle Web site.

STARTING, GROWING, OR RELOCATING A BUSINESS

Businesses thinking of relocating in SeaTac can be assured of a business-friendly local government that offers the personal touch of a small city. Whether a prospective business or developer, the City of SeaTac offers substantial advantages at low costs compared with most of the Puget Sound region, leaving a great value for interested parties.
For assistance in starting or relocating your business to our area, contact Aleksandr Yeremeyev, Economic Development Strategist, at ayeremeyev@ci.seatac.wa.us or by phone at 206.973.4843.

You can also click the following link for available properties and more information. Soundside Alliance Find Real Estate Tool

Development Focus

The City of SeaTac is committed to redevelopment throughout the City with special emphasis on the three light rail station areas. The City is also actively working in partnership with several private property owners, the Port of Seattle and Sound Transit on the development of dozens of parcels ripe for new economic activity.